 Welcome back to Entrepreneurship Tuesday on Why in the Morning at Y2F4 Channel is where you can find us across all our social media platform at Michelle. Asherah is where you can reach out to me in this particular session you're looking at beautiful accessories. It's all matters pertaining or carry smart crafts. You're looking at beadwork and different accessories. This young amazing lady actually makes and it's a composition you want to stick around because we're going to learn one, two, three things when it comes to making a sample of a necklace. This is a choker necklace and she's going to tell us more about how she comes around just making this beautiful piece right here. Oh my goodness. I'm feeling myself. So all carry smart craft deals in customized choker necklace like this one and so many others that you're going to look into. And we also have bracelets and a variety of more other products. So most derived from beads and speak about creativity. This is an amazing piece that we have and so many more. Can't wait you guys to just stick around and have this conversation and get to learn one or two things when it comes to business and also get to meet Nanna Vankeri Muchoge who is the founder and CEO of all carry smart crafts. Thank you for coming through. Thank you too. You're so much composed. Come on. You know you're making amazing pieces here Keri. I just want you to be free with me as you have this conversation because I am so looking forward to learn. I don't know if I'm good at it but I just want to learn one or two three tips when it comes to this business. For the person who is meeting you for the first time, who is Keri Muchoge? Keri Muchoge is definitely an amazing lady. Actually it is me. I'm the founder of all carry smart crafts both on social media platforms. Actually it's an online business. I thought it was best for me to carry it out on social media platforms. What was your childhood like that made you or influenced you to get into business? Being raised in a family of five, being a fast born and my dad passing at a tender age, it was a challenge. I can tell you it was a challenge raised by a single mother who did not have anything, you know. Putting food in the table, it was that one biggest challenge. Actually I was in class seven when I learnt some bidet accessories whereby I got a scholarship here in Nairobi. This person was supporting me in terms of my school fees and for that case I happened to stay with the nuns and you know the Catholic nuns they normally make the rosaries that they normally wear for the Catholics. So that's the point when I started now learning bid work and as time went by I just realised that I'm so much in love with beads. I would stay where beads are. Despite the fact that I would make these bidet accessories with the rosaries I would sell at only 50 shillings. I really loved them and for that case after my class eight that's now the job I did when I went back now home. My home was in Eldoritch. Okay, impressive. I got a story there. You mentioned that you are still in love with beads. So who taught you? How did you learn and how did you keep up with the trends to come up with such an amazing choker necklace? How did you keep up with the trends? Okay, getting to form two I met a certain lady who was making some bidet accessories. This one was beads with names like this one that I'm wearing here. So I happened to tell her make me a bracelet with my name. So she made me with my name. Then I requested for that code, the working code. Do you know what happened? I went started destroying that bracelet that she made me and I started making now how she was doing. I was just checking on how she does and I did some enquiries where can I get these beads? Where can I get that? Here in Eldoritch, where can I get them? And that's how I just found myself doing. Okay, so back from high school to till date. So give us an in-look of what sort of products Okeri bring to the market. Right now I'm holding a choker necklace. So what else do you make? I have over 30 pieces of different accessories. Home decor, beauty products for ladies like the necklaces, the massage sandals. Oh, the one you're wearing? Yes, the one I'm wearing. So I have about 30 pieces. But the chokers, they're the latest products. Alright, so from the necklace then we have the bracelets. Then you mentioned something about the decor. When it comes to, let's look at interior decor, maybe like in a home space, even in an office. What are some of the accessories you make? In a home we have the fruit baskets, the trays. Then we have the table mats. We also have different types of table mats. It's not only one design but I have about three designs of table mats. Then the fruit trays. And we also have the mats. Alright, we're going to look into the accessories that you mentioned, having visuals on them and just getting to learn more about the work that you do. So what was your first accessory design and you were proud of that particular piece? And how much did you sell that piece? It was this bracelet that I'm wearing. Alright. And I used to sell it at 50 shillings during that time. That is, when I say during that time, that is, this is my ninth year. Nine years in the business. Yes, nine years in the business. And selling it at 50 shillings, it enabled me to get school fees for my form four. What? Yes. I would go to the streets, just convince people to buy it. And that time, I even thought that I would not even continue with my high school studies. And I stayed for a whole term, that was first term, without going to school. That was because of school fees. And for that case, the bracelets were one of the biggest and amazing products that I ever made in my life. I am so much proud of you in the fact that you're very confident in your business and you're very hardworking young lady. So let's go back nine years back. My initial capital. Speaking of my initial capital, that was, hey. And how did you actually even catch your capital? Huh? Hey, this was, wow. For the sake of the person who is watching, are you not comfortable telling us so much of it? I'm comfortable. Okay. Okay. At the start, you would get some small savings that I used to have. You may get, accessing these products, they were not that much expensive. You can get a packet of it costing something like 30 shillings. But by then, they were not original beads. Something that I can sell it at 50 shillings. But for now, getting this product is about 150 to 200. You know, with the shangas that I used to do with, they were not that much expensive. So getting that little cash from the savings that I used to have, yeah. Okay, you worked with what you had? Yes, I worked with what I had. So where do you get the beads and the materials that you work with? At the moment, I get them at Carioco. But, you know, due to this pandemic, getting these products has been so difficult. The access to go to China, bring them. They make a challenge. Do you work alone or do you have a team? How does it work for you? Of course, I work with that team. I cannot manage to do this. Like I make the products at the same time I do marketing. At the same time, I do the supply. I have a team that I'm working with. Have you ever felt like giving up in this business? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Alright, so let's look at, let me start with the chokers because I love chokers. Chokers, necklace. So how long did it take you to make this particular piece? And what inspired this design? You know, doing it online. Of course, there's a lot and a lot of accessories online. So, doing my research, you know, you see this design, you see the other design. And as my every day to day job, you know, I just came to learn that, you know, I think big. Now, what next? Then one challenge I got is, you know, today it was your fruit basket. You're not going to pick it again tomorrow unless I come up with something new, you know. You can't just have a home full of fruit baskets. And for that case, my memories just expanded automatically. And for that case, I just found myself doing it. And how did you tap into the local market? How did I tap into it? Convincing people on street. That were my first clients. You know, at first I was not in a position to do it online. It's unlike now. You know, for now, I can do it online. But at first I would even meet someone like you and it just convinced you. Soon you know it to a bracelet, please. I'm doing it because of this, this and that, you know. I'm just doing it because of my skull face. I would go to the streets in Eldoret. Just convincing people to buy their products. But for now, since it is online, you know, it reaches many people. International, yes. We'll get much into that. All carry smart craft in Mifika International. So, let me tell you something. When you go to Kianza, there are people who use Bidwak. You know, even if you don't know how to pay Bidwak, you can use all carry smart craft. Design is different. Borrowing ideas, you know. The moment, you know, okay, if I see someone has done Bidwak, you know, I have now to make that product look much more unique, to convince my clients, ah, this one is so different from the other one. And that's how I win my clients, you know. Just making a product looks lately different. Yeah. Okay, so, going back to what you had mentioned earlier on about your travel to SA Johannesburg. So, me experience getting, how did you even get the opportunity to travel to SA and what sort of experience did you have there that influenced your business in a positive way? Okay, having a friend, interacting with friends. While I was in Eldorid doing these sales, I happened to meet a lot of entrepreneurs, doing businesses. And I met a friend who was so touched with what I do. And she really loved what I do. And by that time I was doing sales at Rupa Small in Eldorid. Okay. And since she was in love with what I do, with the small savings that I had, I happened to go there just to, you know, it was like having fun, couldn't bear to. Then now, you know, I just told myself, now this is the opportunity. And you know, like my products, I can carry them with me. I can go with them wherever I can. So, I just happened to go with them and... Okay. Use that opportunity. I use that opportunity. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Even an idea, you know. You can transform it into a reality and it will become something big. You don't have to need capital, you don't have to wait for a particular day for you to start that business that you have in mind. Do you regret getting into this business? No, no, no, I don't. In fact, I love it. I really love it. But I know it was not my career. Situation made me to realize a lot of things that I have to realize this art and I don't regret it. Before being passionate about this art, what was your initial career? You mentioned that? I was to do nothing. What happened? Yes, I was to do nothing. With the push of my mother, I was to do medicine. And what happened? School fees, you know, a life challenge, you know. Through this art, I managed to take myself to school, you see. I again dropped out from school, you see. It was so, so, yes, yes, yes. And I want to say that you never give up, that your situation is quite interesting, like you're thrown to the world quite very early and you managed to make something out of yourself. And being a business owner right now, that's quite very impressive. So let's look at a couple of challenges that you're faced, your face of a platform, just financial aspect of it. Challenges getting in a picture. COVID has been my number one challenge. For real, what do I want to say? People are just doing enquiries. How much do you sell these? And that is it. They don't buy. COVID has been my number one biggest challenge. And being it an online business, legitimacy, you know. Most people, you know, they don't see whether the business is legit. I have to do, like, a lot to make them now understand, oh, it's a real business. And you know now this Kenya, you know. You, like, I've lost about 10 products. Trusting someone, giving my product in return, this person is not paying in a potteria to evil. And I just thank some companies, like some companies that I was using as a parcel delivery, like sending a product to Mombasa. Then I realized this person will not pay. I just took to this company, no, don't give all this product. That one has really helped me. Then another thing is logistic. You know, in logistic. Okay, when you look at, I understand you. And just before even we continue, I'd like to find out how do you move past people just lying and just going with your products? How do you move past that and just continue with your business and look at the brighter side? Okay, for me, I don't trust anyone. You have to pay on delivery. Yes. And how do you build credibility? You mentioned something important, like, because it's an online business, people, they're not sure if it's legit, so they share well for me. But how do you build your credibility to just make them actually understand that I'm actually, this is for real. Like, if you pay, I'm actually going to deliver. Okay, what happens if at all a client wants some pieces of bracelets? If there are 10, I first do the first five. Send him or her on WhatsApp. Then he does the down payment or the clearance after I'm done. Then I deliver the products. Do the Kenyans support or appreciate beadwork? Yes, they do. Like for the Maasai, you know, the Kalinje with their cultural activities, they do, yeah. Okay, what would you advise someone who has a business idea about the fear? You mentioned that you should just start with what you have. Let's look at a couple of achievements that you've actually experienced for the past nine years down the road. Be patient, yeah. Patience is one of the biggest things that I had in me. Like, you have to be patient in everything you do. Yeah, be patient and trust your journey. Okay, and earlier on before we went live for this conversation, I was asking how long it takes to make a bracelet or even a chocolate necklace. And you mentioned you work with a team. I'd like to find out how has COVID-19 affected the business in terms of teamwork? Do you still work with a team? And if yes, how many? And if no, how long does it take to make probably if it's a chocolate, it's a bracelet? Okay, since COVID, I don't work with my full team. I just had to stop them because since there's no business, what are we doing? But I only have a few, marketing. You know, every day we have to do marketing on our online platforms, yeah. For a client who is looking for a particular design, maybe there's a wedding coming up, a birthday, they have this idea of a bracelet they want. They have an idea, do you make rings? Yes, I do. Oh yeah, okay. So we have, they have an idea of a particular design. So is it possible for you to bring that to life if you sit down with a client? Yes, yes, yes. Okay, so what's the vision looking like when it comes to all carry smart craft designs? Wow. You know, you're almost a day kid. Clearly, it's almost 10 years, but let's look at probably another 5 or 10, yes. Okay, I want all carry smart craft to be in the eyes of many households. Like I want it to be, you know, be something that can be, you know, can be heard by many. Yes. Alright, so maybe you could give us your social media handles, and now guys can reach out to you, make their orders, because I'm about to make mine. So how can you guys reach out to you on social media? Okay, you can find me at Twitter, at KeriKalk, Instagram, all carry smart crafts, K-E, Facebook, all carry smart crafts. You're also available in Gigi, Jomiya and AT. Hi, I see you, I see you. Okay, sales everywhere. It's marketing everywhere. Everywhere it's marketing. I have to say that I'm really, really, very much proud of you all Keri, because starting a business at a very young age, it's almost a day kid, and you're doing an amazing job here. And of course, I'm going to be a client here, and you should too, so make sure you follow all carry smart craft across all social media platform, right? And get your orders, meet bracelet, necklace, whatever you want, she can make it happen, right? So at Y244 channel, as you can find us across the whole social media platform, at Michelle, as you can reach out to me. So make sure you don't touch that doubt, be coming up. We have a question on our Facebook page, head on to there, and I want to hear from you, keep the conversation going. We'll be right back with another interview.